Gusto vs OnPay
A detailed comparison of Gusto and OnPay. See how they stack up on features, pricing, and user ratings.
At a Glance
| Gusto | OnPay | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.5/5 | 4.8/5 |
| Starting Price | $40/mo | $40/mo |
| Free Trial | No | Yes |
| Free Plan | No | No |
| Features | 9 | 7 |
| Best For | SMB | SMB |
This is the US small business payroll head-to-head. Both tools target the same market, solve the same problem, and even share the same base pricing — but they differ in philosophy and structure in ways that affect the buying decision.
Gusto (founded 2011) is the more polished product with three pricing tiers: Simple ($40/month + $6/person), Plus ($80/month + $12/person), and custom-priced Premium. The tiered model means features like time tracking and next-day direct deposit are locked behind the Plus plan. The interface is consistently praised as one of the most intuitive in business software. Benefits integration is deep, with broker partnerships and a wide range of health insurance, 401k, and workers' comp options. No free trial. Rating: 4.5/5.
OnPay (founded 2007) takes the opposite approach: one plan, everything included. At $40/month + $6/person, you get full-service payroll, benefits administration, HR tools, and employee self-service — no tier-gating. A free trial lets you test before committing, which Gusto doesn't offer. The trade-off is a smaller integration ecosystem and no built-in time tracking. Rating: 4.8/5.
Both handle the core job — payroll, tax filing, direct deposit, W-2/1099 generation — reliably. The meaningful differences are about how much you're willing to pay for Gusto's polish and ecosystem versus OnPay's all-in-one simplicity.
Editor's Note
If you value try-before-you-buy and transparent pricing, start with OnPay's free trial. One plan, everything included, no surprises. If you want the most polished interface and broadest integration ecosystem, go with Gusto — but be aware that many useful features require the $80/month Plus plan, not the $40/month Simple plan.
Key Differences
OnPay edges out Gusto with a higher overall rating (4.8 vs. 4.5) and offers a free trial, giving prospects hands-on evaluation time before commitment. Both platforms start at identical pricing ($40 base + $6/person), but Gusto offers tiered options up to Premium pricing, while OnPay maintains simplicity with a single flat-rate model. The critical distinction: Gusto includes built-in time tracking and deeper HRIS capabilities, while OnPay omits time tracking entirely but delivers stronger full-service payroll automation with less complexity for micro-businesses.
When to Choose Gusto
-
You need integrated time tracking. Gusto's time tracking module eliminates the need for a separate system, streamlining workflows for hourly workers and making it ideal for retail, hospitality, or service-based SMBs with significant time-tracking requirements.
-
You want HR depth beyond payroll. Gusto's HRIS capabilities and employee self-service portal go deeper than OnPay, making it better for companies planning to grow their HR operations or needing robust talent management alongside payroll.
-
You require scalability with pricing flexibility. Gusto's three-tier pricing structure (Simple, Plus, Premium) allows you to upgrade features as your company grows, whereas OnPay's single plan may feel limiting for expanding teams with evolving needs.
-
You operate internationally. While both are US-focused, Gusto's broader compliance framework (GDPR, EEO/OFCCP) supports companies with future global expansion plans.
When to Choose OnPay
-
You prioritize simplicity and transparency. OnPay's single flat-rate pricing model ($40 + $6/person) eliminates upsell complexity; there's no confusion about which tier you need, making it ideal for cost-conscious small business owners who want straightforward budgeting.
-
You have fewer than 50 employees and want to evaluate first. The free trial removes purchase risk, and OnPay's focused feature set keeps payroll management lean. This is perfect for startups or newly established companies that don't yet need advanced HR functionality.
-
You want full-service payroll without bloat. OnPay's automatic tax filing and included HR/benefits tools handle everything most small businesses need without the extra features that inflate complexity and learning curves.
-
You operate payroll-only workflows. If your HR processes are minimal or handled elsewhere, OnPay's lack of time tracking isn't a weakness—it's an intentional omission that keeps the tool focused and affordable.
Verdict
OnPay's superior rating and free trial give it an edge for risk-averse small businesses wanting to test-drive payroll software, and its flat-rate simplicity is genuinely valuable. However, Gusto remains the stronger all-around choice for companies needing integrated time tracking, deeper HRIS features, or plans to scale beyond 50 employees. Choose OnPay for straightforward, lightweight payroll; choose Gusto if you want a complete HR platform that grows with your business.
Key Differences
Gusto and OnPay share 7 features. Gusto has 2+ unique features.
Only in Gusto
- Slack Integration
- Zapier Integration
Gusto
Cloud-based payroll and HR platform for small businesses handling payroll processing, benefits administration, time tracking, hiring, and compliance in one system.
OnPay
Straightforward cloud payroll solution for small businesses with full-service payroll, automatic tax filing, HR tools, and benefits administration at a simple flat-rate monthly price.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Gusto | OnPay |
|---|---|---|
| Workflow Automation | ||
| Reporting Dashboard | ||
| EEO/OFCCP Compliance | ||
| GDPR Compliance | ||
| API Access | ||
| HRIS Integration | ||
| Slack Integration | ||
| Zapier Integration | ||
| Mobile App |
Pricing Comparison
Gusto
OnPay
Integrations
Both tools integrate with
Only Gusto
Pros & Cons
Gusto
Pros
- +Best-in-class payroll for small businesses
- +Very easy to set up and use
- +Transparent, affordable pricing
- +Excellent employee self-service portal
Cons
- -Limited to US-based companies (mostly)
- -HR features less deep than dedicated HRIS tools
- -Reporting not as robust as enterprise solutions
- -Not ideal for companies over 200 employees
OnPay
Pros
- +Simple, transparent pricing ($40 base + $6/person)
- +Full-service payroll with tax filing
- +HR tools and benefits admin included
- +Excellent for small businesses under 50 employees
Cons
- -No time tracking built in
- -US-only payroll
- -Limited to smaller companies
- -Fewer integrations than Gusto or Rippling
Which Should You Choose?
Choose Gusto if:
- • Your company is SMB size
- • You need a more feature-rich solution (9 vs 7 features)
- • Best-in-class payroll for small businesses
Choose OnPay if:
- • Your company is SMB size
- • You want to try before committing (free trial available)
- • Higher user ratings matter to you (4.8 vs 4.5)
- • Simple, transparent pricing ($40 base + $6/person)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is OnPay really cheaper than Gusto?
At the base level, they're identical: $40/month + $6/person. But OnPay includes all features at that price. To get time tracking and next-day direct deposit from Gusto, you need the Plus plan at $80/month + $12/person — double the cost. For a 20-person company, that's a $200/month difference. OnPay wins on feature-per-dollar.
Which has better benefits administration?
Gusto's benefits integration is more extensive — wider broker partnerships, more health insurance options, and a smoother enrolment experience. OnPay includes benefits admin and does it competently, but Gusto's depth and partner network in this area is a genuine advantage.
Does either work for companies over 50 employees?
Both can technically handle larger companies, but neither is designed for it. Above 50 employees, you'll likely need more advanced HR features (performance management, advanced reporting, organisational planning) than either platform offers. At that point, consider Rippling or BambooHR paired with a dedicated payroll solution.
Building a shortlist?
Download our spreadsheet with 130 tools compared — ratings, pricing, free plans, and categories. Makes evaluation easier.
Free download. No spam. Includes pricing, ratings, and free plan data for 130 tools.
Your spreadsheet is ready
Download the CSV now — 130 tools with ratings, pricing, and free plans.
Explore next:
How we evaluate tools
Our ratings combine verified user reviews from G2 and Capterra with hands-on feature analysis. Pricing is checked against official sources. We may earn a commission through affiliate links, but this never influences our rankings or recommendations. Read our full methodology.